'barbigerous' originates from Latin, specifically from the elements 'barba' meaning 'beard' and '-gerous' from Latin 'gerere' meaning 'to bear' (thus 'bearing a beard').

'barbigerous' derives from Latin compounds such as 'barbiger' (literally 'beard-bearing') and entered English formation patterns using the suffix '-ous' to form adjectives meaning 'having or full of'.

Initially formed to mean 'bearing a beard' in a literal descriptive sense; it retains this meaning but has always been rare and chiefly literary or technical.